Yesterday we brought you the news regarding the new Traffic Light rating system adopted by ELSPA, but things will not run as smoothly as anticipated: the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC in short), not one of the biggest fans of ELSPA (and vice versa) is now threatening to sue the latter over trademark and copyright violation.

According to Edge magazine, a BBFC spokesperson told them: “We’re happy for ELSPA to make sensible improvements, but not if they encroach on the protection of the BBFC’s symbols. We have these symbols using colours, using circles and using numbers, so we are now taking legal advice.” The rep added: “Our classification symbols have been colour-coded since 1982. They’re very widely recognised, and in fact they are trademark and copyright protected.”

The two traffic light rating systems indeed are similar – but the same could be told about any other circle with a number on it. So… if ELSPA changed the geometrical figure to a square, would everything be OK? I’m just asking, because I consider things like this one “grown-ups playing” and not at all a mature approach to the industry and the rating system itself: if both organizations have the same goal – correct classification and information regarding video games content – why don’t they just shake hands and start working together?